I tell you, the cold and flu remedy industry is the biggest racket. I’ve been sick for a week, and I’ve tried about four different remedies. Everyone has their favorite, and I’ve asked around. Started with Nyquil (only, and at night), took that for a couple days, then on Saturday I switched to Tylenol Cold Relief. And then yesterday, I switched to Sudafed. And my nose is still runny and my head is still congested. It’s safe to say that none of this crap works. I mean, it’s not that I feel sick — which, I suppose, is the bonus of the situation — but I sure wish I could stop high-tailing it to the bathroom every hour to blow all that “stuff” out. And I wish I could hear things clearly, instead of the muffled way I do now.
Today it was recommended that I get a saline spray, so I did, and despite my wariness, I shot a spray up both nostrils. So far, it’s alright. But I’m not sure I did it at full blast enough to make a real difference (20 minutes later and I already have the sniffles).
Regardless, enough is enough. I also made a doctor’s appointment today for tomorrow afternoon. People at work called me a wimp for doing it because they too are sick and have been dealing with it for longer than I have and blah blah blah … well, I don’t want to carry a cold as long as they are. I already wasted one weekend inside, sitting on my couch. This weekend I want to go places. And until then, I want to be able to concentrate at work without being so distracted. I want — hell, I need an antibiotic, or something stronger and proven and reliable so I can stop blowing my nose and can get back to normal.
I estimate I’ve spent about $25 on this cold already, and while that doesn’t sound like so much added up, when you’re spending $5.99 on one thing, and then $3 to replenish the O.J., and then $1.50 on another box of tissues, and then another $6 for another medication … well, you just want something that works so you can stop making nightly runs to CVS. As I say, the cold and flu remedy industry is a racket and it’s sucked enough money out of me already.
So the strangest thing happened Monday afternoon. I finally got around to calling my doctor to schedule an appointment for a physical. I figured I wouldn’t actually get to see the doc until November or December, at the earliest. And after a good natured guilt trip from the receptionist about when I last had a physical (it’s been at least three years, I think; last time I saw him for any other reason was more than a year and a half ago), she told me that actually, there had been a cancellation and would I want to come in Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. I was stunned. It’s an easy(er) week at work, and there’s a convenient appointment available less than 48 hours later. Is the doctor really operating on my schedule? Amazing. Unheard of. Perfect. How often does that happen? (Uh, never.) So there’s just one problem. Now I actually have to go.
Martin's Musings 